Be Ready

Your family is a tribe with its own distinct culture. So is ours. 

Those distinct cultures become an experience of His Kingdom when He is present in our homes.

The Old Testament gives a good picture of how we ought to think of our homes with the imagery of ‘familial nomadic tents’.

Scripture uses the imagery of ‘nomadic tents’ to remind us we are a people on the move. Wherever we might happen to live in the present moment, we are an alien people – not yet in our native country, where our souls will truly sing.

Scripture adds an important detail to this illustration, demonstrating how we are to keep God’s presence with us wherever we go:

From there Abram moved on to the hill country and pitched his tent. There he built an altar to the LORD and worshiped Him. – Genesis 12:8 (paraphrased)

So Abram moved his tent and went to live beside the oaks of Mamre at Hebron, where he built an altar to the LORD. – Genesis 13:18 (paraphrased)

That rhythm of worship at home was learned and repeated – until two generations later we read:

Jacob purchased a section of the field from the sons of Hamor, where he had pitched his tent. And he set up an altar there… – Genesis 33:19-20 (paraphrased)

Why must we keep God and His Kingdom with us wherever our tent is? Because God brings His People to new cultures to bless them – but those cultures eventually threaten to enslave us:

Pharaoh said to Joseph and his brothers, “I will give you the best of the land of Egypt, and you can eat from the richness of the land. Take wagons from the land of Egypt for your young children, your wives, and bring your father here. Do not be concerned about your belongings, for the best of the land of Egypt is yours.’” – Genesis 45:16-20 (paraphrased)

Joseph knew God was bringing His People to Egypt to bless and preserve them. But, after that generation passed, their children became slaves within the very culture they helped build and enrich.

They had become slaves not just by ‘forced labor’, but enslaved to the ‘good life’ Egyptian culture held out to them. Even after God had miraculously set them free they longed to go back. (Exodus 14:12; 16:3)

Any culture not of God’s Kingdom will try to own us. Keep us addicted to an ‘easy’ and ‘fun’ life. Keep us from continuing on the journey to The Kingdom of our inheritance. These cultures will always try to usurp our hearts and those of our children for their own gain. There is only one defense:

In whatever culture we find ourselves – blessed or not – we are not home. Our hearts must remain with God and in His permanent Kingdom. Our children need to hear about it from us. And see it in our eyes.

Make Him central. Get your tribe ready for the difficult journey by keeping an altar for Him. Worship Him in your tribal tent with your family right where you are. And always be ready to leave.